Advent Devotional December 3, 2013

Scripture

2 Peter 1:12-21

12 Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, 14 since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.

19 So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Devotional

Sometimes in the cold concrete dawn of December, when the morning sky changes little from dawn to dusk, when our fields lie dormant and our hearts are still, when the autumn color of fall has faded and the first snowfall is still at hand. Sometimes in these wee hours of darkness it is hard to remember the excitement of that Easter morn, when the fresh dew of faith first awakened our eyes, or of the holy mountaintop set ablaze by Christ’s resplendent glory. It is in these days when the world is shrouded in darkness we remember that the light of Christ still smolders in the coldest of hearts invoking the beauty of transfiguration—not of Christ, for his glory is ageless, but for us—for who we have become in Christ. Advent is the season of watchful remembrance and unsurpassing hope of who we are becoming in him.

Prayer

Gracious and loving God, awaken our hearts and renew our Spirits to the light of Christ so that he may be reflected in all we do and say. Amen.